Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
Our company specializes in taste sensing systems, and we were selected as one of 300 of Japan's Vibrant Monozukuri (Manufacturing) SMEs in 2009 for our merits. We have patented many taste sensing systems and peripheral technologies. This strong development capability and extensive accumulation of know-how in the field are our strengths. We are now actively promoting sales by participating in seminars and trade shows. We also receive an increasing number of interviews and media coverage in TV shows, magazines, and books. We will continue to enhance our technologies, and develop products to meet customer needs. 

[Business description]
We sell taste sensing systems and related solutions, as well as containers necessary for sales and measurement. We also provide maintenance services for these devices.
We provide analysis on request. The subjects include food (e.g., meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, processed foods, and condiments) and drinks (e.g., water, fruit juice, beer, coffee, wine, rice wine, sake, and shochu distilled liquor). We also analyze medicine and healthcare products (e.g., drug substances, pharmaceutical formulations, health drinks), and so on (e.g., dissolution testing for containers). 


[Industry]
Analyzer manufacturing

[Strength of products/technologies]
Our taste sensor is the world’s first technology of its kind. It has been patented in many forms, both for the taste sensing system itself and the peripheral technologies. No similar patents currently exist. Professor Kiyoshi Toko of the Graduate School of Kyushu University, who is the inventor of this technology, was awarded the Spring Purple Ribbon Medal for this technology. A Research and Development Center for Taste and Odor Sensing was established by Kyushu University last fall, and it now functions as the world’s first core facility for research in this field. It is anticipated that the quantification of taste will assume more importance in the future. Our taste sensing system has acquired over 80% of the domestic Japanese market, and has gained the support of many customers. 

[Representative's message]
Our company is standardizing the global measurement scale for taste and contributing to food culture as well as food safety and security with our unique technology. Food cultures are entirely different depending on the country. We strive to offer a solution to customer problems while studying different food cultures to make the solution effective, and earn the customer’s gratitude in the end. We hope to fully utilize the Japanese spirit of hospitality in offering this taste sensor technology, which we believe to be representative of Japan, and make it more useful worldwide. We plan to engage more overseas sales agencies that understand this policy, and conduct conscientious marketing.

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
We have agreements with overseas sales agencies to avoid the risk of direct transactions with overseas customers. We also have contact people within our organization for technical inquiries from engineers at the customer’s site. The team is assisted by the R&D department and the service department to ensure that correct responses are made regarding highly technical matters. We plan to make this more systematic to create a framework that can provide speedy and accurate support. 

[Market share/Ranking]
Our domestic taste sensing system has acquired 80% of the domestic Japanese market, and 30% of the overseas market.

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]
Award from the Kanagawa Branch of the Institution of Professional Engineers (November 2002). 
Approved for support as a Venture Supportware project by the Venture Enterprise Center (October 2003).
Innovative Small and Medium Enterprise recognition by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government (April 2004).
The 22nd Kanagawa High-Tech Grand Prix (held by Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanagawa Shimbun), incentive award (November 2005).
A-rank evaluation from the Kanagawa Industrial Promotion Center in its “Business Possibility Certification” (October 2007).
Kanagawa Standard recognition by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government (February 2008).
Excellence Award in the technology/product category of the 20th Awards for New Technology and New Products of Small and Medium Enterprises (March 2008).
2nd R&D Subsidy Project approval in 2008 by Mitsubishi-UFJ Technology Development Foundation of Japan (February 2009).
Kawasaki’s Excellent Entrepreneur Award, Risona Kanagawa Support Award, Hamagin Award, and Audience Support Award at the 58th Kawasaki Entrepreneur Audition Business and Idea Seed Market, which was held by the Kawasaki Industrial Promotion Foundation (March 2009). 
300 of Japan's Vibrant Monozukuri (Manufacturing) SMEs selection by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Japan (April 2009).
The 34th Inoue Harushige Award, Inoue Harushige Award Committee (July 2009).
Special Award in the product/technology development category of the 3rd Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Award competition (held by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) (July 2009). 

[Media]
TV programs: “Tamori no mirai yosoku (2003); “Techno Tanteidan” (2003); “World Business Satellite” (July 14, 2005, September 1, 2007, and November 26, 2012) ; “Paracelsus #10” (August 31, 2005); “Sekai ichi uketai jugyo” (June 24 and November 25, 2006); “Kaitai shin show” (July 28, 2007); “Kagaku daisuki doyojuku” (September 29, 2007); Fuji Television, “Super News” (March 12, 2008); “Night in night” “Bebop! High Heel” (November 6, 2008); “Bakushomondai no Nippon no kyoyo” (July 16, 2009); “Mezamashi TV” (February 10, 2011); “TV Sukkiri” (August 31, 2011); “Morning Satellite” (November 4, 2011); “Morsate” (January 10, 2012); “Zatsugaku kazoku” (May 26, 2012); “FNN Super News” (April 26, 2012); “Kanafuru TV” (June 24, 2012); “Morning Bird” (August 15 and 29, September 5, 19, and 26, 2012); Asahi National Broadcasting, “Yajiuma TV” (December 5, 2012); Ehime Prefecture, “Iyo × Ichi” (January 2013); Nippon Television, “ZIP” (February 22, 2013); Nippon Television, “Mega ten” (November 18, 2013); NHK (November 14, 2013); “Magellan no tamashii” (March 9, 2014). 


[Joint research and development]
2010–2011: Objective shelf life setting with the use of a taste sensing system (subsidized by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), under the Subsidies to Realize Innovation program in 2010).
2011–2014: Development of evaluation technology used in a taste sensing system for fermented food and other products (for quality enhancement and transfer of traditional techniques), under the Strategic Core Technology Advancement Program, held by Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.